Apparatus for generating an aerosol



Jan. 22, 1963 M. v. FRIEDELL APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AN AEROSOL 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 22, 1958 INVENTOR.

MORLEY v. FRIEDELL 1 fl 4 ATTORNEY Jain. 22, '1963 M. v. FRIEDELL3,074,697

APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AN AEROSOL Filed Aug. 22, 1958 v 3 Sheets-Sheet2 INVENTOR.

MORLEY V FRIEDELL A TTORNE Y Jan. 22, 1963 M. v. FRIEDELL 3,074,697

APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AN .mosor.

Filed Aug. 22, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l. 62 .s'64 58 57 P mWWW! INVENTOR.

7 MORLEY V. FRIEDELL ATTORNEY United States rado Filed Aug. 22, 195%,Ser. No. 756,653 4 Claims. (Cl. 2611-16) This invention is directed toan apparatus for generating a micronic size aerosol of liquid in airwherein an aerosol or fog is created in an air line for conveyance in asuspended state by the air to a point of consumption. Hereinafterreference will be made to compressed air, air line, unpressurized air orair under pressure, but it is to be understood that various gaseousmediums could well be substituted for the air and thus the invention isnot to be limited by the use of this terminology. More specifically, theprinciples of this invention utilize free or unpressurized air as acarrier of aerosol by intermixing it with the aerosol of pressurized airand liquid at or adjacent the point of but following atomization and inturn a portion of the flow of the air under pressure is utilized tocontinually induce the fiow of free air through the atomization area.Reference is hereby made to my co-pending application Serial No. 512,416filed June 1, 1955 and entitled Methods and Apparatus for Generating anAerosol, now Patent No. 2,890,765, issued June 16, 1959, and the presentinvention having a common assignee and as will be apparent hereinafterthe essential features of said application are desirable for the mosteflicient functioning of the present invention.

The invention of said application is concerned with an aerosol generatorwhich is capable of producing a greater number of fine aerosol particlesper unit of oil lubricant or other liquid adapted to be converted intoan aerosol. In order to create the aerosol, air at high velocity isdirected against the liquid to reduce and subdivide the latter, such asoil, into many fine aerosol particles. The effect of the air, however,is to impart substantial velocity to the particles and thus, in thepast, many of the fine particles were lost inasmuch as they came intocontact with a surface within the aerosol generator capable ofreclassifying the particles. By providing an air baflie, of the typedescribed in detail in said application, arranged to intercept therapidly moving aerosol particles the velocity is reduced to a pointwhereby a large number of the fine particles are not reclassified withinthe generator and thus a much higher proportion of fine aerosolparticles results. The baffle preferably includes three or more jetsarranged in a substantially common plane for directing air substantiallynormal to the axis of aerosol spray movement.

In conventional type aerosol generators, a source of pressurized air isused not only to generate an aerosol, but also to act as a carrier. Inaccordance with the teachings of my said co-pending application theefficiency of the generating process has been greatly increased and theair, as a carrier, has reached the saturation point, beyond which anyfurther appreciable increases in liquid in the aerosol are not possible.It has been found, however, that additional air added at loweredpressure into the fog settling chamber of the device of said applicationacts as an aerosol control when less than the usual aerosolconcentration is desired. Also, under certain con. ditions, if theaerosol generator is operated at maximum output and additional air isadmitted into the settling chamber, an increase in total liquid outputof 20 percent to percent can be obtained, indicating that asupersaturated aerosol is being created by the generator. No matter howmuch such additional air is admitted, however, the maximum increase islimited to about 30 percent.

From the foregoing it is possible to reach a number of atent Of3,074,697 Patented Jan. 22, 1963 conclusions; namely, a given volume ofair or gas is required to carry a given quantity of liquid; for bestefficiency the air must be introduced at substantially the place andinstant the aerosol is being created, and maximum efiiciency is notobtained by using all pressurized air as a carrier for the aerosol. Fromother studies it has now been determined that high air pressures, oractually pressures above 20 pounds per sq. inch, are not efficient withconventional type aerosol generators and yet the average industrial airsupply pressure will be found to be between and p.s.i. Using such highpressure results in a major loss in efiiciency in the operation ofaerosol generators, and since the generator will not create any moreaerosol of any consequence at pressures above 20 p.s.i., no advantagecan be gained in using any intermediate pressures, as long as theregular supply is at a higher pressure.

The present invention utilizes the energy in the higher pressure air increating the aerosol and at the same time inducts free air into theaerosol generating device and through the area in which the aerosol isbeing created. Hereinafter reference will be made to free orunpressurized air and it is to be understood that such is meant to coveratmospheric air, lightly pressurized air or an air or gas medium that isnot pressurized to any appreciable extent. Thus, this free air becomes apart of the aerosol generating air, and is consequently saturated withand carries its full share of aerosol to provide what will, forconvenience, hereinafter be referred to as a combined aerosol. It isalso possible for the free air to be inducted against an appreciablehead such as would exist in a bearing type lubricator in which a head ofas much as 15 inches of water is required to effect reclassification atthe point of usage.

This new invention was created to fill a need for an aerosol generatingdevice in which, because of the tremen dons quantities of aerosolrequired, efficiency is of the utmost importance. One of the primepurposes or uses of this invention, as will be apparent hereinafter, isin connection with improving the operating efi'iciency of dieselengines. A paper on this subject entitled Supplementary Fuel Additionfor Diesel Engines was presented to the SAE meeting in Cleveland onNovember 6, 1957, by Dr. Paul H. Schweitzer of Pennsylvania StateUniversity. In his paper Dr. Schweitzer stated that Norgren Micro-Fogprovides at least twice the increase in efiiciency of any method used toadd fuel. This increase in efficiency amounted to 10 percent in the caseof Micro Fog and 5 percent in the case of the best alternate method. TheMicro-Fog aerosol generator used in the tests by Dr. Schweitzer was theaerosol generating device of my copending application Serial No.512,416. However, Dr. Schweitzer also stated While the use of Micro-Fogprovides the greatest increase in efliciency and improvement inoperating characteristics, the power required to compress the quantityof air required to create the Micro- Fog at the rate required, olfsetsthe gain in engine efficiency.

The foregoing is believed to define the limitations of the mostefiicient previously existing techniques of gen erating aerosols interms of efiiciency. However, as will become apparent, my presentinvention requires only 2 /2 to 10 percent of the power requirement ofany previous apparatus for or method of generating aerosol, or anincrease in efficiency of 10 to 40 times, depending on the pressure ofthe primary source of air available. Thus, it provides apparatus forefiiciently creating the aerosol required for diesel enginesupplementary fuel and when used for this purpose, it being kept in mindthat there are many other uses, less than 10 percent of the previouspower requirement is needed to create the compressed air necessary togenerate the aerosol desired.

One of the most outstanding advantages of this invention resides in thesize of the auxiliary equipment required to supply air, as compared toair supplying equipment for the less eflicient aerosol generators. Forexample, a 1600 hp. road diesel locomotive engine would require 1200 cu.ft. of air per minute at 20 pounds per sq. inch to generate the requiredamount of aerosol to effectively supply the engine. It is extremelydoubtful that a compressor of this size and capacity could be installedin the average locomotive and yet with the present invention the airrequirements are within the capacity of the auxiliary air system on theengine. For instance, the output requirement could be met at 112 poundsper sq, inch with a total consumption of 90 cu. ft. per minute and 16.5horsepower or at 30 pounds per sq. inch, 60 cu. ft. per minute and 6 hp.Thus, in the matter of operating equipment alone, the present inventionwould be a very practical apparatus for and method of creating thedesired aerosol.

Bearing the above in mind, it is perhaps the primary object of thisinvention to provide apparatus for generating aerosols of liquids by themore efiicient use of pressurized air whereby in effect only a minorfraction of pressurized air energy, as compared with prior generators,is necessary to create the desired aerosol.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an apparatus asdescribed wherein the pressurized air energy is utilized to create afirst aerosol of liquid and air and to induce free air into the firstaerosol whereby a combined aerosol or atomized mixture of pressurizedair, liquid and unpressurized air is created.

A still further object is to provide in conjunction with an apparatus ofthe type described in the preceding paragraph means for thoroughlymixing the free air with the first aerosol of pressurized air and liquidwhereby the free air carries its full share of aerosol.

Another object of the invention is to provide an aerosol generator ofthe type described which utilized free unpressurized air as a carrier ofthe aerosol by intermixing it with a minor amount of pressurized air ator adjacent the point of atomization of pressurized air and liquidwhereby the pressurized air induces the flow of the free air through theatomization area.

Yet another object is to provide apparatus for creating a large quantityof micronic sized aerosol devoid of all liquid particles larger than twomicrons in size.

Also an object of the invention resides in the induced free airfunctioning to aid in preventing reclassification of atomized particlesof liquid.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent byreferring to the following detailed description in conjunction with thedrawings wherein two embodiments of the invention are illustrated andwherein like numerals represent similar elements throughout the figuresand wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation view illustrating one form of theinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along the lines 2-4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation view partly in section illustrating anotherembodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44- of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a detail of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a detail view taken along the lines 66 of FIGURE 3; I

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating one of the sixaerosol jets shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the unit of FIGURE 3 asused in connection with a diesel engine installation; and

FIGURE 9 is a view taken along the lines 9--9 of FIGURE 8.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it should be pointed out at theoutset that for the sake of uniformity of language and a clearunderstanding of the invention, the expression aerosol lubricator orbody refers to the assembly including a body having air inlet and outletmeans, a liquid supply and an aerosol generator, while the expressionaerosol generator refers to structure of the type represented at l inFIGURE 1 or illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4.

Furthermore, the elements of this invention such as those illustrated inFIGURES 1 and 3 may assume various forms and shapes and although themetal parts are usually of forged brass or zinc die casting, this alsois not to be construed as a limitation.

Actually the main reason for the development of this invention was toaccomplish the objectives that will be outlined relative to the dieselengine installation illustrated in FIGURE 8. However, in FIGURES 1 and 2there is depicted an embodiment showing the principles of this inventionin connection with other installations and in particular oil fog or mistlubrication units. In the form of FIGURES 1 and 2 the invention isembodied in an air line lubricator of the fog generating type and whichcomprises generally a fog or aerosol generating means 1 located andinstalled by any suitable means in a body or receptacle 2, the latterfunctioning to receive the aerosol as well as to provide a reservoir 3for liquid lubricant L. The supporting and positioning of generatingdevice 1 should be readily apparent, but in any event it will be notedthat device 1 includes a cylindrical portion 4 communicating throughflange means 5 with a reduced cylindrical portion 6 which in turnterminates at one end in an enlarged annular part 7 and extendingtherefrom is a further cylindrical member 8. The body 2 includes acircular hollow support 9 and by referring to FIGURE 1 and noting sealrings S and the securing means 10, it should be readily apparent how theaerosol generator 1 is supported by body 2 within the recess formed byannular member 9. The receptacle 2 is for all practical purposes hollowto provide a settling chamber 12 and, as would be expected although notshown, the chamber 12 is of sufiicient length to enable all of theheavier particles of atomized oil to settle out of the true aerosol andreturn to source L and, of course, space 12' would communicate with asuitable outlet connectable to a distribution system for conveying theaerosol formed to the point or place of usage. To complete thedescription of body 2, there is provided an air supply passage 13 whichat one end communicates with an air supply tube 14 supported by anysuitable means by the body 2, a press or friction fit being satisfactoryand in this connection it may be assumed that the various connectionshereinafter mentioned are similar fittings unless otherwise mentioned.Also, receptacle 2 supports a liquid lubricant supply tube 15. From theforegoing it should be apparent that the body or receptacle 2, asillustrated, is merely diagrammatic and shows a means for supporting thegenerating device 1, means for supplying air and liquid to the generatorand finally means for retaining and confining the aerosol for properdelivery. Thus the entire structure described constitutes the oil fog ormist lubricator, but it will be clear that the body of the lubricatormay assume various forms to incorporate the generating device 1 which isthe true essence of this form of the invention and in this connection itis obvious that compressed air supply means 13 and 14 could be made apart of unit 1.

Now considering generator I, the cylindrical portion 8 is hollow toprovide a free air inlet passage 17 communicating with a plurality offree air supply passages 18 and in turn these latter passages 18communicate with a free air suction chamber 19 located primarily withincylindrical portion 6. Of course, it will be noted that a series ofcounter bores are disposed throughout t receive various components andprovide the necessary liquid or air chambers. Specifically, thesecounter bores in combined cylindrical portions 4 and 6 are representedat 20, 21 (the latter forming chamber 19), 22, 23 and 24. Within bore 24is suitably positioned a liquid jet tube 25 having at its outer end aconical tip 26 and of course tube 25 is provided with a bore 27 thatcommunicates with bore 28 and the latter in turn communicates with aring chamber 29 that is in fluid Communication with tube 15. Press fitwithin bore 22 is a high pressure jet venturi tube 31 having aconverging conical section 32 arranged to match conical tip 26 but toprovide an annular converging passage 33 therebetween and, of course,venturi 31 includes a throat in the form of a diverging passage 34 thatextends primarily within bore 21. The exterior of cylindrical portion 6is provided with partitions P surrounding the seal rings S to dividechamber 29 through which the liquid lubricant passes and annular chamber35. Any air within space 35 will travel through bore 36 whichcommunicates with annular space 37 formed by counterbore 23 and tube 25and then to the venturi throat 34 through restricted passage 32.

A secondary air venturi section 47 is provided and suitably supported inthe manner shown primarily within bore 20. At one end member 47 has aconverging inlet 48 which communicates with chamber 19 and throat 34 andthis chamber forms the throat of the secondary venturi and communicateswith stepped and diverging passages 38, 39 and 40. Section 39 has adiverging wall 41 and a cylindrical wall 42 with which communicate aplurality of intercepting air jets 43 and it will be noted that thesejets, four in number and in a common Plane spaced 90 degrees apartalthough only three are illustrrated, communicate with an annularchamber 44 formed between cylindrical portion 4 and the venturi 47 andare arranged to direct any air passing therethrough substantially normalto the flow of any aerosol from throat 34. Chamber 44 communicatesthrough passages 45 and 46 with annular space 35, there actually being aplurality of such passages 45 and 46. For a further and more completedescription of the air bafile formed by the jets 43 as well as some ofthe functions thereof, reference is made to said pending application.

Assuming for the moment that liquid lubricant is positioned in body 2 asat L and that there is a suitable outlet for receiving aerosol deliveredto settling chamber 12 and that passage 17 is connected withunpressurized air, then if a supply of air under pressure is connectedto tube 14 the embodiment of FIGURES l and 2 will operate. The air underpressure passes through port 13 into annular space or chamber 35- andthen into passages 36 and 37 and through the restricted conical area 32from which it is admitted into the throat 34 of the venturi section tojet the latter. This high velocity of air passing the tip or end of jettube 25 creates a partial vacuum and causes, as perhaps more fullydescribed in my said co-pending application, liquid lubricant to bedrawn up the tube 15 into passage 28 and to exit from the end of tube 27whereby in the usual manner it is atomized and mixed in throat 34 withthe pressurized air emitting from the restricted area 32. This mixtureof pressurized air and liquid which will take the form of an aerosol orfog moves rapidly down the throat 34 and into the enlarged secondaryventuri section 47. After it moves into the enlarged section it entrainsfrom free air chamber 19 through throat 4-8, free or unpressurized air.This ventur-i principle action causes a partial vacuum in chamber 19 andthus results in movement of free air from chamber 17 through themultiplicity of passages 18 to continually replace that continuallydrawn through and into the main stream of aerosol from chamber 19. Thismixture of free air, compressed air and liquid is one of the fundamentalfeatures of this invention and the mixture then moves on down theenlarged venturi 47 formed by sections 38, 39 and 40 until it isintercepted in passage 39 by the cross fire air jets 43 to which, in amanner that has been explained, pressurized air has been supplied. Atthis point, in addition to the actions described in my co-pendingapplication, the main stream of aerosol is thoroughly broken up andintermixed with the free, unpressurized air which has been entrained inthe manner described in the periphery of the central jet stream ofaerosol, thus forming what might be called a combined aerosol with thefree air being saturated with and carrying its full share of lubricantparticles. Finally the intermixture is ejected into settling chamber 12wherein in the standard manner the heavier particles of lubricant fallout and into the liquld supply L while the true combined aerosolcomposed of finely divided micronic sized particles of lubricant aredelivered through the outlet means, not shown, to the point of usage. Ofinterest is the fact that the aerosol particles have been found to allbe less than two microns in size, but of course jets 43 are veryinstrumental in this regard.

The described embodiment of the invention is designed to work against alight head of pressure of perhaps onehalf pound per sq. inch and also toprovide for its own circulation of liquid. The amount of free airentrained in the moving spray of compressed air and liquid will be atleast five times the volume of pressurized air used, thus resulting insaving and efficient use of pressurized air and this firee air, byvirtue of the complete intermixing created by the intercepting crossfire jets 43, will carry just as much true aerosol as the pressurizedair. To protect the principle of adding free air to a confined aerosolstream to form a combined aerosol, it might be pointed out that the mereaddition of free air alone without the cross fire jets will result inquite a profound improvement in efficiency over an ordinary spray jet,as used in some types of aerosol generators, but of course theintermixing by jets 43 is by all means preferred. For a more detaileddescription of the proper location, number, angle, etc. of the crossfire jets 43: and their function as an air baffle for reducing velocityand eliminating reclassification, refer to my co-pending application,although of course when incorporated in the combination as in FIGURE 1,the jets 43 have the further important function of intermixing the freeair with the aerosol stream to form truly combined aerosol.

Referring next to FIGURES 3 through 9 inclusive, there is shown atypical diesel engine installation for which the teachings of thisinvention were especially designed in order to create an aerosol forsupplementary fuel addition for diesel engines. Referring to FIGURES 3and 4, I show an aerosol generator which is specifically designed forcreating an aerosol for supplementary fuel addition for diesel engines.This generator unit is not intended to siphon its own liquid, or to workagainst any appreciable head of pressure, but instead it is intended toeffect a flow of free air through the unit with a minimum of pressurizedair. Accordingly, venturi sections which would draw the liquid throughthe jets or create positive pressures, as might be required forlubrication purposes, are not used. Instead, a firee open design formaximum free air flow has been used. Nevertheless, the principleinvolved is substantially identical to the first described embodiment ofthis invention.

For a better understanding, first referring to FIGURES 8 and 9, atypical diesel engine installation is schematically shown to include anair supply duct 50 which carries air, unpressurized or lightlypressurized, from a super charger or scavenger blower into an airdistribution box 51 from whence it is distributed into the variouscylinders of the engine by outlets 52. To utilize the principles of thisinvention in connection with such a standard installation, one or moreaerosol generators 53 are installed and, as shown, three of them areconveniently supported within area 54 dividing box 51 and duct 50 andpositioned in the same plane approximately degrees apart. In this casethe interior of box 51 would constitute the settling space 55 and thegenerators 53 are arranged to direct aerosol into this space which wouldbe comparable to space 12 previously described. Numeral 56 represents astandard compressed air supply and through air line 57 and a standardpressure regulator 53 pressurized air is delivered to each of thegenerators 53 in a manner that will be more fully described hereinafter.Numeral 59 represents a main or auxiliary fuel tank for containingliquid fuel (it) and line 61 communicates with filter F and aconventional pump 62 to direct liquid fuel through line '63 to thegenerators 53 in a manner that will be explained. It will be apparentfrom the drawing in FIGURES 8 and 9 and upon considering FIGURE 3 thatthe air supply tubes 57 and the liquid supply tubes 63 actually functionto support the generator devices 53 in the space 54 in the mannerillustrated, but of course this is immaterial as various supportarrangements could be provided. From the lower part of chamber 55 thereextends a drain line 64 which functions to return any liquid fuel tosource 69 and it is desirable to have a series of bafiles 65 positioned,as shown in FIGURE 8, to prevent heavier particles of aerosol from thegenerators 53- from being directed into outlets 52 of the container 51.

Now referring in particular to FIGURES 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, one of thegenerating devices 53 has been illustrated in detail and the other twoshown in FIGURE 8 are identical. It probably should be mentioned thatthe generators are soldered or otherwise secured to tubes 57 and 63 andin this same connection some of the other connections are solder jointsinstead of press fits as will be obvious. Each aerosol generator 53comprises a cylindrical hollow shell 70 (which may be referred to as acasing as may the body of unit 1) which functions as a mounting andsupport for the various elements forming a part thereof. Specifically,air tube 57 passes diametrically through shell 70 adjacent one endthereof and is closed as at 71. Supported by tube 57 and liquid supplytube 63, which at its other end is merely a solid piece 72 (see alsoFIGURE 9), is a liquid jet assembly generally represented at 73 and suchconstitutes an annular or ring-like member. Assembly 73 includes a nosejet ring 75, a spacer ring 76 and a back ring 77 and as will be apparenthereinafter all of these rings are annular, ring-shaped and matching tointerengage and in the embodiment illustrated there are six identicalprimary jet actions, this number of course not being limiting.

One of the latter is illustrated in the enlarged showing in FIGURE 7 andit will be seen that spacer ring 76 has double stepped turned faceswhich fit in the turned grooves or openings 78 and 79, respectively, ofnose ring 75 and back ring 77. Back rings 77 communicates with air line57 through the stepped bore 80 and the latter in turn of coursecommunicates with bore 79. It will also be noted that bore 78 of nosering 75 diverges as at 81 into cylindrical bore or jet opening 82. andthat the exterior surface of nose 75 diverges to provide a conical-liketip 83. Substantially centrally of spacer ring 76 there is a passageway54 communicating with bore 79 and in turn enlarged bore 85 whichsupports an air tube 85 that extends to immediately adjacent tip 83 andby referring to FIGURE 4 each generator assembly 73 as shown, includessix such tubes 86 having air passages 87 and jet openings 82 andannularly these are about 60 degrees apart. In actuality passage 82communicates with bore 87 and also liquid tube 63 through bores 78 and81, thus forming a liquid distribution channel for liquid jet sprayingfrom nozzle or jet 83.

Now again referring to FIGURES 3 and 4, air supply tube 57 has connectedtherewith substantially concentrically within shell 70 a fitting 90which supports a cross fire air jet supply tube 91 having a passage 92that communicates with passage 57 by opening 93. At the other end oftube 91 there is a spider fitting 94 for distributing air to a series ofair jet tubes 95 which, as shown, comprise six in number spaced 60degrees apart in the same plane and which are arranged to direct anyejection of pressurized air therefrom perpendicular to any aerosolissuing from assembly 73.

Exterior of shell 70' and substantially centrally thereof is apressurized air supply manifold ring ltitl forming with the exterior ofshell 7% to which it is welded or soldered an annular passage Hi lwhich, as shown clearly in FIG- U-RES 4 and 5, may be supplied withpressurized air entering tube 102 and in any suitable manner as shown inFIGURES 8 and 9 tube 102, may be connected to air line 57. Another groupof cross fire air jet tubes 1113 are located within shell 74? andsupported from the interior wall thereof in axial and common planerelationship to jet tubes 95. Each pair or set of tubes 1% are in evenlyspaced angular relationship to each other and, as illustrated, 60degrees apart. Each of these tubes 103 communicates with space 101 andthe tips of tubes 163 are preferably spaced an equal distance away fromthe center of axis of flow from nose 75, the approximate distance beingabout two-thirds of the lateral displacement of tubes 103 from the faceof outlets 82. It will thus be noted by referring to FIGURE 4 thatsurrounding each aerosol ejection from an opening 82 there will be atleast three cross fire jet tubes, such as have been connoted by A, B andC of FIGURE 4, with each of the latter as shown being 120 degrees apart.

In operation a suitable supply of pressurized or high pressure air issupplied to each of the generator devices 53 through the tube or line 57and in turn liquid is supplied through line 63. Normally the airpressure in line 57 may be between 20 and 160 pounds per square inch,the pressure utilized determining the amount of aerosol generated. Theliquid supply pressure need be only 1 pound per square inch or justsufficient to maintain flow and although there may be a slight siphoningeffect it is so low as to be negligible. Here again the action of eachgenerator 53 is substantially identical to that described in connectionwith FIGURES l and 2. Specifically, air ejecting through each tube '86upon contacting liquid fuel in passage 82 results in an aerosol beingejected from the nose ring at the six openings 82. Each mixed aerosolstream or spray of liquid and air is directed along the axis of shell 70toward chamber 55 and inducts from within each casing 70 and line 569' alarge amount of free or unpressurized air which becomes thoroughly mixedand saturated when the mixture of the three pass through the cross firejets and 103 (the intercepting air baffle for each stream issuing froman opening 82) or, in other words, a violent and complete intermixingoccurs at this point to completely saturate all the air to its maximumcapacity and form a combined aerosol of liquid fuel, unpressurized andpressurized air. The volume of free air in ducted is about 20 times ormore that of the compressed air supply used, thus improving theefficiency 20 times or more. As shown in FIGURE 8, this combined aerosolmixture, which again essentially consists of micronic sized particlesand which require a minor portion of high pressure air or pressurizedair power, is directed into air box 51 where any heavier particles ofliquid fall out or are baffied out to return in a liquid form to themain fuel tank through drain 64- and the combined aerosol is deliveredto the engine intake through ports 52. Volume or quantity of aerosoldesired may be easily controlled by regulator 58.

The generator as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 can be made in many differentconfigurations and with various numbers of jets 82, depending on theoutput requirements. However, as in my co-pending application, three ormore cross fire jets are required for each spray jet 82 in order to havesatisfactory operation. The size or volume of air the cross fire jetsdeliver with relation to the amount of air each spray jet 82 delivers isquite important. Preferably, each cross fire jet 95 or 1013 will have abore area or delivery capacity five-eighths to three-fourths that ofeach spray jet 82. This provides sufficient energy to break up and mixthe initial aerosol with the free air thoroughly without baffiing thefree air flow to any ap- 9. preciable extent. If the cross fire jetswere too large, the amount of free air that would be inducted with theaerosol streams from jets 82 would be inadequate. It is also importantthat the cross fire jets be located and directed perpendicular to theaxis of flow from openings 82 as any inclination in the direction offlow decreases the effectiveness of these jets 95 and 102. Here again,of course, the intercepting air bafiles formed have the additionalfunctions outlined in my previous application. Finally, in View of theforegoing and the detailed description in connection with FIGURES 1 and2, it should be apparent that the various features and advantagesmentioned in connection with FIGURE 1 are equally applicable inconnection with my supplementary fuel addition technique for dieselengines shown in FIGURE 8.

Again referring to the detailed description of both embodiments, thereis one function that has not been mentioned, namely the effect of theinduced free air in preventing reclassification of atomized particles ofliquid, this subject having been more fully discussed in my copendingapplication. In FIGURE 1, the interior wall of venturi section 47 and inFIGURE 3 the interior wall of shell 70 provide solid surfaces, but theinduced free air is bound to provide a stream covering portions of thesesurfaces, thus at least reducing the chances of reclassificationthereon.

The foregoing disclosure and description is illustratory and explanatorythereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials as well asin the details of the illustrated embodiments may be made within thescope of the appended claims without departing from the true spirit ofthe invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An aerosol generator comprising a hollow casing forming an elongatedchamber open at both ends with one end adapted to be connected tounpressurized air, a pressurized air supply source, and a liquid supplysource, supply means located within the chamber substantially at thecentral axis thereof, said pressurized air source being connected forair flow communication with said supply means, a fluid receiving memberhaving a plurality of spaced spray jet openings directed towards theother end of said chamber supported within the chamber between saidsupply means and casing, said pressurized air and liquid source beingconnected for air and liquid flow communication with said member, meansfor forming and causing ejection from each of said jet openings anaerosol of liquid and air under pressure with the aerosol upon ejectionentraining therewith unpressurized air from said chamber to form acombined aerosol stream of pressurized and unpressurized air and liquidtraveling towards the said other end of the casing at a relatively highvelocity between the supply means and casing, pressurized air bafilemeans in said chamber for creating a plurality of air baffles each ofwhich intercepts one of the combined aerosol streams whereby theunpressurized air is thoroughly mixed with the aerosol issuing from eachof the spray jet openings, each of said air baffles comprising at leasta group of three air jets spaced around the periphery of its respectivecombined aerosol stream, two of said air jets being supported by saidcasing and one by said central supply means, said air source beingconnected for flow communication with said two air jets and said one airjet being connected for flow communi cation with the air fiow of saidsupply means, the group of three air jets being positioned such that theair streams issuing therefrom intersect one another within the confinesof the respective combined aerosol stream.

2. An aerosol generator as defined in claim 1 wherein the jets of thegroup are directed normal to the flow of combined aerosol movement.

3. An aerosol generator as defined in claim 1 wherein the casing issubstantially cylindrical and the member is annular and substantiallyconcentrically located with respect to said supply means.

4. An aerosol generator as defined in claim 3 wherein the wall of saidcasing is provided with a ring-like passage connected to the source ofpressurized air, two of said air jets of each group being supported bythe wall and communicating with said ring-like passage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,461,873 Grote July 17, 1923 1,608,833 Birkenmaier et a1 Nov. 30, 19261,610,825 Thom-as Dec. 14, 1926 1,848,122 Forster Mar. 8, 1932 2,094,959Pulidori Oct. 5, 1937 2,389,059 Kurth Nov. 13, 1945 2,466,100 I-I-arrahApr. 5, 1949 2,869,188 Cameto Jan. 20, 1959 2,890,765. Friedell June 16,1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 454,147= Great Britain Sept. 21, 1936 550,949Germany May 23, 1932 673,914 Great Britain June 11, 1952

1. AN AEROSOL GENERATOR COMPRISING A HOLLOW CASING FORMING AN ELONGATEDCHAMBER OPEN AT BOTH ENDS WITH ONE END ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TOUNPRESSURIZED AIR, A PRESSURIZED AIR SUPPLY SOURCE, AND A LIQUID SUPPLYSOURCE, SUPPLY MEANS LOCATED WITHIN THE CHAMBER SUBSTANTIALLY AT THECENTRAL AXIS THEREOF, SAID PRESSURIZED AIR SOURCE BEING CONNECTED FORAIR FLOW COMMUNICATION WITH SAID SUPPLY MEANS, A FLUID RECEIVING MEMBERHAVING A PLURALITY OF SPACED SPRAY JET OPENINGS DIRECTED TOWARDS THEOTHER END OF SAID CHAMBER SUPPORTED WITHIN THE CHAMBER BETWEEN SAIDSUPPLY MEANS AND CASING, SAID PRESSURIZED AIR AND LIQUID SOURCE BEINGCONNECTED FOR AIR AND LIQUID FLOW COMMUNICATION WITH SAID MEMBER, MEANSFOR FORMING AND CAUSING EJECTION FROM EACH OF SAID JET OPENINGS ANAEROSOL OF LIQUID AND AIR UNDER PRESSURE WITH THE AEROSOL UPON EJECTIONENTRAINING THEREWITH UNPRESSURIZED AIR FROM SAID CHAMBER TO FORM ACOMBINED AEROSOL STREAM OF PRESSURIZED AND UNPRESSURIZED AIR AND LIQUIDTRAVELING TOWARDS THE SAID OTHER END OF THE CASING AT A RELATIVELY HIGHVELOCITY BETWEEN THE SUPPLY MEANS AND CASING, PRESSURIZED AIR BAFFLEMEANS IN SAID CHAMBER FOR CREATING A PLURALITY OF AIR BAFFLES EACH OFWHICH INTERCEPTS ONE OF THE COMBINED AEROSOL STREAMS WHEREBY THEUNPRESSURIZED AIR IS THOROUGHLY MIXED WITH THE AEROSOL ISSUING FROM EACHOF THE SPRAY JET OPENINGS, EACH OF SAID AIR BAFFLES COMPRISING AT LEASTA GROUP OF THREE AIR JETS SPACED AROUND THE PERIPHERY OF ITS RESPECTIVECOMBINED AEROSOL STREAM, TWO OF SAID AIR JETS BEING SUPPORTED BY SAIDCASING AND ONE BY SAID CENTRAL SUPPLY MEANS, SAID AIR SOURCE BEINGCONNECTED FOR FLOW COMMUNICATION WITH SAID TWO AIR JETS AND SAID ONE AIRJET BEING CONNECTED FOR FLOW COMMUNICATION WITH THE AIR FLOW OF SAIDSUPPLY MEANS, THE GROUP OF THREE AIR JETS BEING POSITIONED SUCH THAT THEAIR STREAMS ISSUING THEREFROM INTERSECT ONE ANOTHER WITHIN THE CONFINESOF THE RESPECTIVE COMBINED AEROSOL STREAM.